[Fine Binding | Essex House Press] American Sheaves & English Seed Corn

Ashbee, C.R. American Sheaves & English Seed Corn: Being a Series of Addresses Mainly Delivered in the United States, 1900-1901. Printed at the Essex House Press by Ashbee. London: Edward Arnold; New York: Samuel Buckley, 1901. Limited to 300 copies, of which this is #288. Large decorative initials printed in red and black. Bound in full dark brown crushed morocco by W. Moss (signed on the lower inner board), with front cover featuring the full title and author lettered on the upper portion of the cover, surrounded by gilt rules and a pattern around the outer edge of roundels and square fleurons. Rear cover with gilt rules and pattern border. Five bands to spine with title and author to second compartment and floral decorations to remaining. Gilt-ruled turn-ins with four small flower tools at each corner. Top edge gilt, others uncut. Marbled endpapers, erratum slip. Measures approx. 6" x 8.5". A few minor spots of rubbing at corners. 

I was unable to track down any further information on "W. Moss", but a penciled note on one of the binder's blanks at rear notes "W. Moss / Oct 1911", which matches up stylistically for when this binding would have been executed. Whomever he or she was, they were very well-trained. An excellent example of Arts & Crafts bookbinding.